GROUPS OF GARDEN FLOWERS 25 



when even a weakly plant will attempt a brave show of spikes of bloom, 

 each flower of an open bell-like formation, reminding one of a Foxglove. 

 Remember, however, that the Pentstemon is decidedly tender ; a hard 

 winter will kill the plants wholesale, but that is of small importance, 

 as seedlings may be raised with great ease ; indeed, we may quite regard 

 the plant as a biennial i.e. seedlings flower the year after the seed is 

 sown, in contrast to the annual, which flowers the same year. Remember 

 the seasons for seed sowing one in June, in shallow pans, the seedlings 

 to be wintered in a frame, and the other, which is the more convenient 

 when space in the little greenhouse is precious, in January. Sow upon 

 a hot-bed or in a temperature of between 50. The Pentstemon is 

 easily propagated by means of cuttings taken during August or 

 September. 



For the benefit of the inexperienced grower a typical growth of the 

 Pentstemon, showing the flowers with the young growths freely developed 

 on the lower portion of the stem, is shown in the illustration. By 

 cutting away the flower-spike a number of young shoots are always 

 encouraged to develop, and these invariably root quite satisfactorily. 

 That the beginner may better understand the character of such growths, 

 we have given an illustration of such material, the shoot on the left being 

 just as it was cut from the plant. 



The preparation of the cuttings next requires to be dealt with, and 

 this is a simple matter. The cuttings should be about 3 inches in length, 

 as shown on the right of the centre illustration. The lower leaves are 

 trimmed off close to the stem with a sharp knife, and the stem of the cutting 

 cut through immediately below a joint, the latter being formed by the 

 junction of the leaf-stalk with the stem of the cutting itself. Cuttings 

 may be rooted in a variety of ways a cold frame may be requisitioned, 

 a bed of sandy soil prepared, and the cuttings inserted in this where a 

 large number of plants are desired. Where the demands are less, boxes, 

 pots, or pans may be utilised for the same purpose. On the opposite 

 page a number of cuttings are shown inserted in a seed-pan of good 

 dimensions. A suitable compost for propagation purposes should com- 

 prise loam, leaf-mould and coarse silver sand or clean road grit in equal 

 proportions, and be well mixed. Insert the cuttings carefully, pressing 

 the soil firmly to the base of each one. Water in, and after leaving 

 to drain for a while, cover with a bell-glass or hand-light, and arrange 

 in the cold frame. Keep the cuttings close for a time till rooted, then 

 admit air. During the rooting process shade from bright sunshine. 

 Pentstemons flower in late summer and autumn. 



Phloxes, Herbaceous. For very many years the herbaceous 

 Phloxes have been favourites with lovers of hardy flowers. Long before 

 the merits of the bulk of our beautiful herbaceous flowers were appre- 

 ciated to anything like the extent they ought to have been, these Phloxes 

 had claimed the attention of florists, to whose efforts in cross-fertilisation 

 we largely owe the numerous and beautiful varieties that adorn our 

 gardens to-day. From what species these varieties have been derived 

 it is difficult to say, and there is very little reliable data to enlighten us 



